VENICE, ITALY - A new film at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, based on the true story of a 6-year-old girl from Gaza, left audiences in tears. Titled “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” the 90-minute film, directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, has been selected for the festival's official competition. Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix are credited as co-producers.
The film, which premiered at the Sala Grande on the Lido, reconstructs the harrowing events of January 29, 2024. Six-year-old Hind Rajab was the sole survivor in a car struck by Israeli tank fire while attempting to flee with her family. The film centers on the desperate phone calls she made to a rescue team while trapped inside the vehicle.
According to reports from The Washington Post, Hind and her relatives were fleeing an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza City when their car was hit less than 400 meters into their journey. Miraculously, Hind survived the initial blast, clinging to hope for over three hours while speaking with rescuers. The film includes the actual audio recording of her voice, where she can be heard pleading, "I'm so scared. Please come. You're coming to save me, right?"
The last call ended abruptly with the sounds of gunfire and explosions. It was only after about 12 days that the bodies of both Hind and the rescue team were found. The rescuers, who were meant to save her, were killed just 50 meters from her location. Hind herself was found dead in the car after Israeli forces withdrew from the area. The Israeli military has denied responsibility for the attack.
The film primarily uses actors to recreate the scene, but the inclusion of the genuine phone call recordings between Hind and the rescuers adds a chilling layer of reality.
Following the screening, the film received a powerful and prolonged ovation of over 20 minutes—an unusually long period of applause for the festival. The audience chanted "Free Palestine," and some waved Palestinian flags. A DPA news agency reporter noted that the applause was "longer than for any other film in the competition." The emotional resonance of “The Voice of Hind Rajab” has made it a standout and deeply moving piece at this year’s festival.
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